The Best Way to Prepare for iOS 26 on Your iPhone Is to Change These 10 Settings in iOS 18

Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology for CNET. He is also the author of dozens of how-to books covering a wide spectrum ranging from Apple devices and cameras to photo editing software and PalmPilots. He drinks a lot of coffee in Seattle.

Apple has just released iOS 26.1, the first major bug-fix update to its latest iPhone operating system. But not everyone jumps onto the latest versions, preferring to let other people kick the tires on the new software. In the meantime, there are probably a few settings in iOS 18 you haven't explored yet that could make your iPhone faster, easier and more private.

I've identified 10 simple changes that can immediately impact your current iPhone's performance. Some help reduce background battery drain, others give you more control over ...